Why Deepavali Falls on a Different Date Every Year

If you've ever noticed that Deepavali was in October one year and November the next, you're not imagining it. Like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, Deepavali follows a traditional calendar rather than the Gregorian one most of us use every day.

Deepavali 2026 at a Glance

In Malaysia, Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Because it lands on a Sunday, Monday, 9 November is listed as a replacement public holiday in many states. Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, which have a different weekend arrangement, do not get the Monday replacement, and Sarawak does not observe Deepavali as a public holiday. For comparison, Deepavali 2025 was on 20 October and Deepavali 2027 is expected around 28 October.

The Hindu Lunisolar Calendar

Deepavali's date is set using the Hindu calendar, which is lunisolar. That means it tracks both the phases of the moon and the position of the sun. Months are based on lunar cycles, but adjustments are made so the calendar stays roughly aligned with the seasons.

Deepavali generally falls around the new moon in the Hindu month known as Aippasi in the Tamil calendar or Kartika/Ashvin in other regional calendars. In the Gregorian calendar, this usually means somewhere between mid-October and mid-November.

Why Dates Can Differ Between Countries

You may notice that Deepavali sometimes appears on slightly different days in Malaysia, India or Singapore. This can happen because:

• Different regions follow different calendar traditions.
• Time zones affect when a particular lunar phase begins.
• Some communities celebrate on the day before or after the main date.

In Malaysia, the official public holiday date is announced by the government in its annual list of public holidays.

Similar to Other Malaysian Festivals

Malaysians are already familiar with moving festival dates:

• Hari Raya Aidilfitri follows the Islamic lunar calendar and moves about 10–11 days earlier each year.
• Chinese New Year follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar and falls between late January and mid-February.
• Wesak Day and Thaipusam also follow lunar-based calendars.

Because Islamic and Hindu calendars work differently, Hari Raya and Deepavali occasionally fall close together. Those years have inspired some memorable joint celebrations.

Planning Tip

Since dates change, it's helpful to check the official public holiday list early in the year. Employers, schools and families can then plan leave, travel and open houses ahead of time.

A Calendar Full of Celebrations

Malaysia's mix of calendars is part of what makes our festive year so rich. Every few months, there's another reason to visit friends, share food and exchange greetings.

Happy Deepavali, and enjoy the long weekend if you have one!